Houstonians have an abundance of choices when it comes to finding a place to spend their twilight years.

Senior living operators have been opening and planning new properties across the Houston area, from urban neighborhoods like the Heights to farflung suburbs like The Woodlands.

"The population is aging and more importantly people are living well into their 80s and 90s, which wasn't the case 30 years ago," said Andy Cohen, CEO of Caring.com, an online resource for senior care.

The costs of senior housing vary wildly and depend on the level of service and amenities.

Room, board and care can range from $2,000 to $10,000 a month.

Some retirement communities require a large up-front payment. After death, a percentage of that fee is passed onto the resident's heirs.

The nicest facilities can feel like resorts or upscale apartment complexes with indoor pools, exercise classes and movie nights.

There are three main options for retirement housing: independent, assisted and skilled nursing.

Independent living typically includes individual apartments with kitchens, though the facility may have a shared cafeteria. Medical care is usually not included.

Assisted living is for those who need more help for things like cooking meals or minor medical care. These facilities usually have a nurse on staff and often provide three daily meals.

The third segment of the market is skilled nursing for the very ill or injured.

The Houston area has 71 assisted living providers, 16 memory care providers and 20 independent living providers, according to the local directory of Caring.com, which is based in San Mateo, Calif.

Many communities have respite care, allowing a prospective tenant to stay for a couple of weeks before committing.

The caregiver industry is growing, too.

Over the past five years, 57 senior care agencies have opening in Houston, according to Caregiverlist.com, a Chicago-based firm that connects seniors with professsional caregivers.

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